Posted on 06/02/2008 3:48:58 PM PDT by hocndoc
ELDORADO, Texas -- Hours after signing an order releasing FLDS children from state custody, 51st District Judge Barbara Walther arrived at the Schleicher County Courthouse in Eldorado to swear in a grand jury that may be considering indictments related to the polygamous sect.
By the end of the day, 18 indictments had been issued, although no details were immediately available. The number was more than the usual; it is more typical for five to 15 indictments to be returned, a court clerk said.
Walther arrived at at the Eldorado courthouse at 12:30 p.m., accompanied by two bailiffs and her court clerk. She left an hour later.
Allison Palmer, the deputy district attorney for Tom Green County who has been leading the office's investigation into the sect and appearing at related hearings, also was at the courthouse.
Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran was unavailable earlier in the day because he was meeting with the DA's office, a spokeswoman said.
In a story published Saturday by The Los Angeles Times, Doran indicated criminal charges were pending, while downplaying reports that FLDS members had requested voter registration forms and could influence county elections.
"Once we begin impaneling some grand juries and the criminal case comes to light, we'll see the tide turn once again," he said.
It could be days before the focus of any of Monday's indictments are known; the county's policy is not to release information about indictments until they are served.
News of the grand jury's meeting circulated among members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, creating concern about returning to their homes on the YFZ Ranch.
A raid of the ranch that began April 3 led to the removal of some 450 children, who were eventually placed in shelters throughout Texas. Walther signed an order on Monday morning that allowed them to be returned to their parents immediately.
Last week, Arizona and Texas authorities collected DNA samples from Warren S. Jeffs, the sect's leader. He is jailed in Kingman, Ariz., awaiting trial on charges related to marriages he conducted between underage girls and older men.
The search warrant said the evidence was needed as part of a new investigation of four spiritual marriages between Jeffs and girls who range in age from 12 to 15.
In Texas, the Attorney General's Office is awaiting results from 599 DNA samples collected six weeks ago, mostly from FLDS adults and children living at the YFZ Ranch, located just outside Eldorado.
nothing to see here - move along
Deserved, I’m sure. However, when will we see the indictments against some of the judges, CS personnel, and the sherrif that should stem from this case?
Wow. For two months, I have said 10 indictments, and out of that 3 prosecutable cases, and ending with one conviction containing multiple charges.
So, I got the number of indictments wrong, so far.
And, the children are being returned slowly, as I guessed they would be.
Everything seems to be preceding normally. Due Process, in action.
I don’t know how this will affect the future of the FLDS in general. I hope it is for the best.
I got nothing against charging people with crimes, if their is evidence that they comitted them.
On the other hand...snatching kids and ADULTS, in violation of federal and TX law, is also a crime.
Do you think a single CPS worker will be charged with kidnapping, in the case of the 27-yo they kidnapped?
It is a federal death-penalty crime.
The other foot is about to drop, even as the FLDS tries to sign up all of its voting-age members to vote in the next election so that they can take over El Dorado, just like Hildale and Colorado City.
You're not spouting the crazy non-sense that Texas officials should be executed by the federal government too are you?
18 indictments? Gee.
Well, maybe. Or Maybe the DA is doing a bit of CYA.
Ping
Good thing I read the thread...since my first reaction was:
When will we hear about indictments against the officer requesting the initial warrant, the judge, and the kidnapping CPS folks?
And the DNA reports began coming in, too.
http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2008/jun/02/flds-children-heading-home-today/
While orders might have been vacated, no crimes were committed by the judge or the Texas Rangers and local Sheriff who carried out the orders.
There’s going to be a mess figuring out who lives where and that definition of “household” is still not settled.
In the meantime, that last article from the San Angelo paper notes that the lawyer for one of the girls - the 16 year old daughter of Warren Jeffs - asked the judge to stay the return of one of her clients, who the lawyer has identified as a victim of sexual abuse. She may go back tomorrow, but the lawyer is asking for stricter conditions.
>> The other foot is about to drop
Is this one jack-booted? Like the first one was?
Nah...sounds like the perfectly reasonable law-and-order response, asking for all to be punished by the same standards.
Like h*ll, IMO.
Yes, the government lawyer... Who is acting against her client's wishes... And who released her client's name to the world as a sexual-abuse victim.
Nope - I am perfectly willing to charge them INDIVIDUALLY, allow them to mount an INDIVIDUAL defense, find them INDIVIDUALLY guilty, and then hang them, INDIVIDUALLY.
Which is more than they offered the crazies in Eldorado.
No one released anyone’s name. Remember, most of the women go by their own names. It’s not a given that the children take on the father’s name, since there’s no real marriage under state law.
“and that definition of “household” is still not settled.
“
Nonsense - see item VI of the order. The last sentence defines “Household.”
Don’t forget that when Willie Jessop told all the women to stay sweet and cooperate, they willing got on those buses.
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